More than just wine and roses

An event that offers good wine and good company is definitely an event worth attending, especially if it's benefitting the community.

The Tri-Lakes Women's Club will once again host their annual wine tasting event. The event is one of two major fundraisers for the TLWC with proceeds going back to the Tri-Lakes community.

Wine and Roses & More will take place Oct. 27 at The Pinery at Black Forest. There are more reasons to attend this year. There will be more wine, more local on-site chefs, a raffle of a specially designed jewelry piece by Purple Mountain Jewelry and a commemorative wine stem.

Attendees can participate in live and silent auctions, sample food from restaurants in the Tri-Lakes and Colorado Springs areas and have their wine, spirits and beer poured by celebrity servers. Celebrity servers include local disc jockeys, television anchors, food and magazine editors, mayors and business and political leaders.

All beverages have been arranged by The Wine Seller and Serranos Coffee. Silent Auction items are donated by local merchants and members of the TLWC.

“Everything is donated. Without donations we wouldn't be able to give back to the community,” Alaine Nolt, co-chair of Wine and Roses & More.

This year marks the 10th annual wine tasting event. The main fundraiser for TLWC for many years was the Pine Forest Antiques & Garden Show and Sale. In 2003 they had received $30,000 in grant requests. Figuring the antique show would net approximately $20,000 the TLWC needed at least $10,000 more so member and co-chair of Wine and Roses & More Jan Vaughn suggested hosting a wine tasting to bring in more money.

The first Wine and Roses fundraiser took place a week before the antique show and brought in $7,000. Another one took place a few months later and have been held in October ever since. The antique show takes place every spring.

“The more we do the more we are able to give,” Nolt said.

“Every year our net proceeds increase to give back,” Vaughn added.

The TLWC has been giving back to the community for more than 30 years and have given more than $700,000. They grant approximately $50,000 each year to nonprofits within the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 boundaries.

Wine and Roses & More will take place from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 27 at The Pinery at Black Forest. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online at www.TLWC.net, Serranos Coffee, The Wine Seller and the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and The Tribune.